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The 5 Whys for Root Causes

For each problem, ask "why?" five times in a row to reach the root cause.

20 min Beginner

Goal

Stop "symptom-fixing" that brings the issue back next week in a different form.

Steps

1

Write the problem precisely (not "things are bad").

4 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

You discover the "obvious" cause at Why 1 was misleading.

Evidence base

School: Toyota Production System / Kaizen

Founders: Sakichi Toyoda · Taiichi Ohno (1958)

Coined by Sakichi Toyoda (Toyota founder); popularized by Ohno in TPS (1988). Standard in Lean & Six Sigma.

Frequently asked questions

How long does "The 5 Whys for Root Causes" take?

This exercise takes about 20 minutes, practiced with another person in a Written reflection format.

When will I notice the effect of "The 5 Whys for Root Causes"?

You discover the "obvious" cause at Why 1 was misleading. In the short term: After 3 applications, problem recurrence drops 60%.

Is "The 5 Whys for Root Causes" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Toyota Production System / Kaizen (Sakichi Toyoda, Taiichi Ohno (1958)). Coined by Sakichi Toyoda (Toyota founder); popularized by Ohno in TPS (1988). Standard in Lean & Six Sigma.

Is "The 5 Whys for Root Causes" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Beginner. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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